Still More On Psalm 83

Your recent article- Psalm 83…Preview of a Coming Attraction- contains a couple items I think are either wrong or at least need additional explaining to me. You make a statement: Psalm 83 was probably written some time after the end of King Solomon’s reign (about 900 BC) . But, as you point out, this Psalm was written by Asaph. In 1 Chr. 15:16-17 it says that David had the Levites appoint singers, of which Asaph was one, to bring back the Ark early in David’s kingship. It doesn’t seem likely that he was still writing Psalms after David’s 40 reign and Solomon’s 40 reign (Asaph would have to be well over 100).

Secondly, as for Psalm 83 being an unfulfilled prophecy, Psalm 83:7 lists Amalek as one of the peoples attacking Israel. You make note that: The Amalekites lived in Israel’s southern desert. But according to the Bible the Amalekites were totally wiped out How are a people who, according to the Bible, haven’t been around for 3000 years going to take part in a still future battle? With the elimination of Amalek, Psalm 83 would have to be viewed as history rather then prophecy.

A

Asaph is believed to have been alive during the reigns of David, Solomon and at least the first years of Rehoboam. (During David’s reign Levites began service as young as 20 years of age) 1 Chron. 15 didn’t necessarily take place early in David’s Kingship. After being made King over all of Israel, David conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites (1 Chron. 11), made his first (unsuccessful) attempt to bring the Ark to the City of David (1 Chron 13), built his own palace, and defeated the Philistines (1 Chron. 14). Then he brought the ark to Jerusalem. Asaph composed Psalm 83 late in life, after the death of Solomon, from the newly formed Northern Kingdom.

As for the Amalekites being wiped out, this is essentially true. However Haman, a descendant of King Agag appears several centuries later in the Book of Esther, so apparently some of them escaped. But more importantly, I said that Israel’s enemies in Psalm 83 occupy land once belonging to the people mentioned there. God often does this to help us interpret long range prophecy. For example, in Ezekiel 38 Russia is called Magog, Iran is called Persia, etc. And finally, there’s no record anywhere of a battle such as the one Asaph described ever happening, so it can’t be history.

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Jack Kelley published over 9,000 Bible Study resources here from 1999, until the Lord called him home in the fall of 2015. His teachings made the Bible clear and easy to understand, and impacted millions of lives. He is the author of all the teachings here, and all materials are available free of charge! His wife Samantha maintains this site as well as their missionary outreaches.